Jump to content
KiteLife Forum

Wayne Dowler

Kitelife Subscriber
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    3,680

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    57

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Wayne Dowler

  1. Looking for some rev advice

    in Beginners

    Posted

    80 - 85' will be fine for solo flight. If you have any desire to fly with others - plan on getting a set of 120', all in 90# or 100#.  Just remember - the shorter the line, the smaller your wind window is. And in almost all cases, take the time to check the lines for evenness. Put all 4 lines on one stake, pull them evenly and compare lengths. Most will need adjusting. Then check again after a few flights to see if things have changed. Do not trust that "New lines are equal"!!

    You can defeat the Reflex technology by removing the springs or getting another set of verticals without it. Then you can decide on how you like it set up.

    If there is one piece of advice I give - Learn to "GIVE to the Kite!!". Counter intuitive I know, but pulling just drives the sail into the ground that much harder! Learn to let the kite crash. Even step forward. It takes all the power out of the sail.  Much better to walk down and straighten things up, than to find a broken kite!! GIVE!!

    • Like 1

  6. A Sunday Glide - The Long Way Home

    in Indoor Gliders

    Posted

    I've flown Horvath's Hybrid (200? mid sized) a few times, great glider indoors. And my Ninja outdoors. The Ninja satisfies the quad flier in me - no set and forget that one! Always active and needs attention. Would love to try some others, but........

    PS: nope - ain't going away..... that I know of anytime soon! 

     

    • Like 1

  14. Handle mods (snagless)

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    I  used the round head screws that came with the plugs. Only thing I didn't like was it was threaded clear to the top. My solution was to chuck the screw in an electric drill and used a file to knock down the sharp thread edges. And the round heads can't cut the caps. 

    Years of use and no failures.

  15. Stunt Kite Clinic (Jun 16-17, 2018)

    in Scheduled Events

    Posted

    Easier to see what is happening at the kite, but remember the window goes by pretty fast. Helps you see any tip wraps as you relaunch too. 

    I don't think I would ever try flying a full sized kite on 30', 50's  yes. Most of my dualies were flown on 50' - 65', back in the day. There was a trend to use short lines to get more people to fit on the same amount of ground. Today, it appears to be back to longer lines.

    • Like 1

  17. Need repair advice

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    Unobtainium  is the word on the now defunct "B"pros. Maybe on the used market, but then no choice on color combos. Like JB said - fly what suits you.

    Myself, I went Phoenix. In fact my whole team did. On FB, look for Quad Squad North West - you'll see us.

  20. New to quads is this kite a place to start?

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    One of the common misconceptions is that a single kite satisfies all wind ranges. Many try flying the "wrong" sail in winds not suitable for it. Before buying I would suggest, if any way possible, try to meet up with others and get some of their thoughts on what might be appropriate for your area. 

    Throw the stated wind ranges printed on company brochures out the window. Many overstate both the low end and top end of a sail's range. Will it fly in those conditions - depends on the skill of the flier. Most definitely the top end is almost always exaggerated. The question is" can I fly?" or "should I fly?". Once a sail gets stretched out, there is no returning to how it once was.

     

    • Like 3

  21. Have you seen this ?

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    Draw a diagonal on a "B" and you would get 8 panels not 2 as in the Phoenix. Remember the first set? They had Rev logos on them and nothing back from Rev.

    Printing? Isn't the act of printing taking art and "copying"it? Gee, why aren't there 8 Mona Lisa's hanging in museums? 

    • Like 2

  22. Dude... what's wrong with your kite?

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    For those trying to burn frayed edges - put something steel or metal in the pocket to hold it open while melting the edge. Acts as a heat sink too. I have a piece of round, 1/2" thick stainless  rod I use.Never use your spars!! Be sure all your bunjis or bridle legs are clear or have been removed first!!!

  23. Dude... what's wrong with your kite?

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    Look close at the pic - how many twists are in the bunji? When assembling, that should come out clean with no twists and lay flat. The bridle attachment should come out clean from the cap. Spin the cap til that happens.

    John offers sewn wear strips. I did make my own from 1" insignia tape. Assembled the kite and carefully marked where the tape would go. Clamped the sail down smooth on a sheet of plywood.  I then cut my tape to go even with the LE, down to the triangle reinforcement. Started it even with the LE and in short bits, laid it on, using my marks as a guide. Rolled it very well using a heavy, but small roller for formica. Rolled it WELL!!! Didn't need to sew, that tape is sticky stuff, but good rolling really helps it stay in place.

    • Thanks 1

  24. Handle mods (snagless)

    in Quad Heads

    Posted

    But Sari - we know that at times you have to fly on different knots if you've got stretched lines and need to do a quick field equalizing, before doing a proper re-equalizing. Just did it this weekend on a relatively new set, during the grid practice. (Lucked out, it was a bottom line!)

    • Like 1

  25. Removing Zero G nose fittings

    in Indoor Gliders

    Posted

    HMMM? 1st time I've heard of anyone needing to replace one, so not sure here. If they super gluedd the fitting, heat might work. Epoxy would be something else altogether. Might call Prism or email, and ask. They might send you that nose fitting for putting on a replacement spar. It is a special piece isn't it?

×
×
  • Create New...